Thill-coupling



(No Mael.) W. C. MOLER.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented Apr. 14,1891.

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\VILLIAM C. MOLER, OF CLAGGETTS STATION, MARYLAND.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,418, dated April 14, 1891.

Application tied october 9,1890. semi No. 367,530. (No man To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. MOLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olaggetts Station, county of lVashington, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to thill-couplings, and has for its object to provide simple and etlicient means for secnrin g and holding the parts together against accidental or other displacement; and it consists in a construction and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Referring to Ithe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating my invention applied to one form of coupling, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view.

In the drawings, A represents the axle or other part to which the coupling is attached. The coupling shown consists of the clip B, secured to the axle A in the usual manner, and having formed integral therewith ears C, between which is supported the thill-iron D. This thill-iron is united to the ears by a removable bolt E, having a tapering head fitting in a large or recessed opening on the outside of one of the ears C, so that the bolt and side of the opening are iiush with each other when the bolt is in place, and the small end of the bolt preferably projects a short distance beyond the other ear, so that the bolt can be readily pushed out when it is desired to separate the parts. It is desirable that this bolt while being readily removable may be securely held in position against accidental displacement, and to accomplish this is the principal object of my invention. Secured to the outside of one of the lugs C is a guard-plate F, and this is preferably united by a rivet or bolt f, which may be hammered or otherwise secured against displacement. This guardplate is made with a substantially straight side f', which is made to conform to and normally bear against the axle A, as shown in Fig. 2. From this straight side extends the curved side f2, and this curve is substantially concentric with the pivot F of the plate. The upper portion of the plate is extended to form a knob or portion f3, which serves asa handle to move the plate from one position to another.

Through the body of the plate F is made a perforation G, which is preferably substantially the same size as the head of the bolt E, and is arranged so that when the guard is raised into the position shown in Fig. l this opening corresponds exactly with the opening in the side of the lu g and allows the bolt-head to be pushed through the opening and the bolt removed. lVhen, however, the guard is rcmoved from any position except the one indicated, the bolt will be securely locked and held in position.

The guard-plate being pivoted at one side of the bolt-hole and being of the shape and conguration described has the tendency to remain in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and no ordinary jolt, jan-or blow will throw it materially out of this position, and if it is perchance thrown out of position the bolt cannot be removed or fallout accidentally until the opening G coincides exactly with the opening in the side of the lug and is directly over the bolt-head, and this is a contingency which is almost impossible to happen. It will thus be seen that the guardplate, which is simply a piece of metal having the coniguration described and provided with the perforation, as indicated, is exceedingly cheap, that it can be applied to thill-couplings already in use without material change, and that when applied it securely locks the bolt, holding the thill-iron in position against any accidental displacement, but at the same time permits the ready removal of the bolt when desired.

As a still further precautionl sometimes add the shield ll, which is pivoted to the stud or bolt f and normally covers the opening G in the plate, a studor pin 7i holding it in position over the opening, but permitting its being swung out of the way to remove the bolt. When this shield is used, not only must the hole in the plate coincide with the head of the bolt when it-is to be removed, but the shield must also be lifted out of the way.

/Vhile l have shown and described my invention as applied to one particular form of IOO chill-coupling, itis evident that it may be applied to other forms without departing from the principles of its construction.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with a thin-coupling the lugs of which support a bolt ush With the outside surface of one of the lugs, of a guardplate pivotally mounted on the lug at one side of the bolt, said guard-plate being provided with an opening corresponding to the openin g in the lug, substantially as described.

2. The combination, With the thill-coupling having the lugs through which passes a bolt the head of which is Hush with the outside of one of the lugs, of a guard-plate pivotally mounted on the outside of the lug, said guardplate having a straight side anda curved side 

